Michael Malone is rallying the Denver Nuggets as they face a daunting challenge of overcoming a 2-0 series deficit against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Malone, the head coach, expressed concerns about his team’s belief and urged them to elevate their physicality and leadership.
Despite their recent playoff success, the Nuggets find themselves in an unexpected predicament, prompting Malone to call for a collective belief and higher performance from the team’s leaders. He emphasized the need for action over words, particularly highlighting Jamal Murray’s and Nikola Jokic’s subpar performances in the series.
Murray’s scoring struggles and Jokic’s dip in numbers against the Timberwolves contrast with their previous playoff performances, adding to the urgency for a turnaround. Malone referenced historical comebacks from 0-2 deficits, emphasizing the importance of mindset and active participation in their own recovery. Drawing from their experience of overcoming deficits in the 2020 postseason, Malone emphasized the significance of focusing on winning the upcoming Game 3 rather than dwelling on the larger series deficit.
Malone: we have to participate in it… we’re not gonna comeback just because it’s us… why are we always needing to comeback? All year we were a great first quarter team. pic.twitter.com/E2ybqZnzZY
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) May 8, 2024
The Nuggets’ lackluster starts in games have been a concern, with Malone stressing the need for improvement in early quarters to unsettle opponents. Despite their past success, Malone urged his team to play with the confidence and caliber befitting reigning champions. As they head into Game 3, Malone’s message is clear: it’s time for the Nuggets to rediscover their championship form and demonstrate their belief on the court.
In other news, Nikola Jokic clinched his third NBA Most Valuable Player award in four seasons, joining an elite group of players with multiple MVP honors. Jokic’s stellar performance throughout the season solidified his status as one of the league’s top talents, with impressive statistics and a notable number of triple-doubles. His MVP win cements his place among basketball legends, further affirming his impact on the game.
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